Alejandro Lopez-Fierros, 5, plays a game of ping-pong on the opening day Saturday of the C.K. Ray Recreation Center in Conroe.

Alejandro Lopez-Fierros, 5, plays a game of ping-pong on the opening day Saturday of the C.K. Ray Recreation Center in Conroe.

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C.K. Ray, second from left, cuts the ribbon on the new C.K. Ray Recreation Center in Conroe.

C.K. Ray, second from left, cuts the ribbon on the new C.K. Ray Recreation Center in Conroe.

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Renovated CK Ray Center expects 1,000 visitors a day

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Healthy spirits were high Saturday at the C.K. Ray Recreation Center ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony as community members marveled at the completion of the center.

The more than $3 million renovations began in September 2010 with the first phase reaching completion in April, opening a remodeled 3,050-square foot fitness center, multipurpose room, Kidz Zone and locker rooms.

The completed construction Saturday revealed additional locker room renovations, as well as upgrades to the gymnastics room, gymnasium and two racquetball courts, Rob Hamilton, city recreation manager, said. In addition, several aerobic rooms were added, along with a welcome center and game room. The Kidz Zone space nearly doubled to 1,032 square feet, while the weights and cardio rooms were combined into a large room to accommodate $130,000 in new weight and cardio equipment.

Willis resident Lesa Capehart has been taking water aerobic classes for six months at the center and often brings her grandchildren to the pool when they visit from Houston. She said she was excited to learn about the new children’s programs that she can take her grandkids to this summer.

“I hope it brings family values and brings families together,” Capehart said about the expanded space at the center. “It helps promote healthy living because we all know we don’t eat right.”

Mel Lonon and his wife, Karen, moved to Conroe 10 years ago. Mel met namesake C.K. Ray in Lions Club and has become good friends with him. He said the center is ideal for the community because it provides a state-of-the-art facility for people with multiple interests.

“Especially in today’s time where people are out of work, it’s nice to have somewhere to go, have a good time, meet new people and even make contacts,” Lonon said.

With about several hundred daily visitors, Hamilton said around 1,000 residents have opened new or renewed memberships, causing him to expect up to 1,000 daily visitors during the summer with increased space and added programs.

New programs for the summer will run through August and include youth arts and craft classes, ultimate Frisbee tournaments, youth tennis lessons and adult tennis tournaments.

Namesake C.K. Ray, who has served on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for more than 30 years, said the center has already benefited the community members who frequent its doors, and the new space will allow even more activities and programs for members of all ages.

“We can take care of the babies up to the senior citizens,” he said.

Ray visited about six centers across Texas to determine the best features the remodel needed to provide, adding that he could not be happier with the beautiful turnout.

“I love it,” he said. “It’s good for the city and it’s the prettiest one I’ve seen in all my tours to different rec centers.”

Hamilton said he thinks it is important for every community to have a place for its citizens to come for recreational activities and hopes that current and future residents benefit from the remodeled center.

“This is a quality of life accomplishment for the City of Conroe,” he said. “When people move to our community and they see that we have facilities like this, they will realize that the City of Conroe is concerned for the quality of life of its citizens.”